Closure fastener for containers



Aug. l5, 1939. E. P. L lNcH 2,169,448

v CLOSURE FASTENER FOR CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 19, 1958 Patented Aug. 15, 1939 UNITED STATES itam PATENT OFFlC;

6 Claims.

This invention relates to closure fasteners for containers and more particularly to an improved construction and conformation of wire loop for fastening closures in place on containers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved one piece wire structure for fastening container closures in place.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a closure fastener for containers which will have a higher sealing efficiency than has heretofore been obtained,

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved form of closure fastener particularly adapted for use on carboys where strength and reliability are essential.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved form of wire loop for use in fastening container closures in position.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved form of wire loop for use in fastening container closures which is provided with a portion for indicating the correct positioning of the'wire loop on the container.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the annexed specification and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will bemore readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a portion of a container showing a device made in accordance with the present invention and in place on the container for fastening the container closure;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, as seen from the left thereof;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 and looking up from beneath;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of a preferred form of wire loop before being placed on the container; and

Fig, 5 is a fragmentary side elevational View of a portion of the wire loop as bent before being placed on the container. Y

It will, of course, be understood that the description and drawing herein contained are illustrative merely, and that Various modifications and changes may be made in the structure disclosed Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, the upper portion of the container is shown generally at I and as there shown may be a carboy or the like.

The container Ill for which the present invention is particularly adapted has the neck portion II thereof provided With a shoulder or collar as at I2 which may be inwardly tapered as shown. The invention is not, however, restricted to this specific shape of shoulder I2 as will hereinafter appear.

The container IU is provided with a closure or l0 stopper I4 of the well known type having one or more grooves I5 diametrically disposed across the top thereof. A washer I6 of cork or other suitable material is also disposed in the well known manner between the closure I4 and the uppermost edge of the container Ill. Of course, it will be understood that other forms of closure devices may be used if desired.

In accordance with the present invention a wire loop member as shown in Fig. 4 is provided, preferably of an initial form as there illustrated. This loop member is preferably formed from a single piece of round Wire and as illustrated in Fig. 4 includes a straight and long leg portion I'I and a closed loop I8 connected thereto.

The closed loop I8 preferably comprises a sharply curved portion I9 formed as a continuation of the leg I'I, a generally circular portion 2B formed as a continuation of the portion I9, a continuous straight portion 2l tangentially disposed with respect to the curved portion 20, a curved portion 22, an inbent curved portion 23, a curved portion 24 and a short leg portion formed into a coil 25. The coil 25 is composed of a plurality of closely arranged turns of wire and surrounds the portion of loop member I8 adjacent the leg I'I and the sharply curved portion I9 to provide a bearing for the portion of the loop member I3 passing through and enclosed within the coil 25.

The radius of curvature of the portion and 40 the portion 24 is somewhat in eXcess of the radii of the neck portion II and of the shoulder or collar I2 of the neck of the container II).

It is to be particularly noted that the loop member I8 is so constructed that the axis of the coil 25 is co-linear with the portion 20 of the loop member I8 which extends therethrough, that the axis of the coil 25 is initially disposed hori- Zontally and as hereinafter indicated remains disposed horizontally and in the same relative position with respect to the curved portion 20.

In applying the loop member to the container, the closed loop I8 is positioned on the neck l! of the container immediately below the collar I2 With the inbent portion 23 placed on the left hand side and toward the operator. loop I3 is moved by the operator so that the coil 25 and the portions 20 and 24 of the closed loop I8 adjacent thereto are in contact with the neck II of the container below the collar l2. The straight portion or leg I'I is then bent upwardly and in the bending the adjacent portion of the closed loop I8 which comprises the end of the curved portion 2Q is twisted torsionally and revolves within the bearing provided by the coil 25. This bending brings the longitudinal axis of the leg I'I, as shown in Fig. 5, to a substantially vertical position and the leg I'l is thus vertically disposed above the end of the curved portion '24 where it merges into the coil 25. The leg I'l is then bent so that a portion extends upwardly along the shoulder or collar I2, as at IIa, a portion is disposed within one of the grooves I5 as at I'Ib of the closure I4, a portion extends downwardly along the collar I2 as at I'Ic. The leg I1 is thus bent into an inverted generally U-shape.

The end portion of the leg I'l'ris inserted withinv the curved portion 22 or twisted therearound A suitable tool (not shown) may then be inserted at the portion 22 and that portion, together with the end of the leg II areV together twisted in a manner which causes the portions of the loop member I8 adjacent the neck II and below the shoulder or collar I2 to be drawn into engagement with the neck portion I I of the container IIJ below the shoulder or collar I2. At the same time, the legY II is tightened across the top of the closure VI4, and brought to a position s o that the portions I'Ia. and IIc of the leg l1 are close to the sides of the shoulder or collar I2. The final twist is shown at 25. With the conformation of loop member herein shown, the portions A lI'la and Ilc of the leg member I'I take positions Y close to or against the sides of the shoulder or collar I2, while at the same time the portions 20 and 24, of the loop member I8, iit snugly against the neck II of the container beneath the shoulder or collar I2. The coil 25, the sharply curved portion I9, and the adjacent portions 20 and 24 of the loop member IB extending around the neck II, do not creep upover the shoulder or collar I2 while the loop is being `fastened in position or subsequently.

It should be noted that as the straight portion or leg l'I is bent upwardly, the necessary twist of the wire to permit this bending will extend over a part of curved portion 20, the loop portion I8 of which the leg I'I is a continuation, and by reason of this torsional twist, there will be no tendency of the wire in moving to the fastening position to break or assume an undesired shape or conformation with respect to Ythe shoulder I2 of the container in contrast to those structures wherein no torsional twist of the wire isprovided.

I claim:

1. A wire loop member of a single piece of wire for fastening container closures comprising a bendableleg having a free end and being of a length suicient to extend over the top and down the sides of the neck of the container, and a closed loop larger in size than the neck of the container, said loop being contractible by twisting portions thereof to engage the neck of the container, said loop being formed as a continuation of the bendable leg and joined to said leg by an angular bend, the other end of the wire being formed into a coil around and encircling a portion of said loop on the loop side of the bend, said coil being composed of more than a single The closed Y turn of wire and having its longitudinal axis in alinement with the loop, said coilrbeing adapted to be horizontally disposed along and tangential to the adjacent surface of the neck of the container.

2. A wire loop member of a single piece of wire for fastening container closures comprising a bendable leg having a free end and being of a length sumcient to extend over the top and down the sides of the neck of the container, and a Closed loop larger in size than the neck of the container, said loop being contractible by twisting portions thereof to engage the neck of lthe container, said loop being formedas a continuation of the bendable leg with an angular bend substantiallyat right angles therebetween, the other end of the wire being formed into a coil around and encircling a portion of said loop on the loop side of said bend, said coil being composed of more than a single turn of wire and having itslongitudinal axis in alinement with the loop, said coil being adapted to be horizontally disposed along and tangential to the adjacent surface of the neck of the container, said coil serving as a journal for the coil encircled portion of the loop to permit torsional twisting thereof upon upward movement of Vthe bendable leg.

.3. A wire loop of a single piece of wire for fas-V tening container closures comprising a bendable leg having a free end and being of a length sufficient to extend over the top and down the sides of the neck of the container, and a closed loop continuous with the bendable leg and joined therewith by an angular bend, said loop being contractible by twisting portions thereof to engage the neck of the container, the other end of the wire being formed into a coil around a portion of the loop near its juncture with the bendable leg and on the loop side of the bend, said coil having its longitudinal axis in alinement with the loop, said bendable leg having the free endV for Vengagement* with a portion ofthe loop remote from the coil, and adeected portion formed in said loop to indicate the initial positioning of said loop.

4. The combination with a container having a neck with a shoulder at the upper extremity, and a Closure member for closing the mouth of the container, of a fastening member for holding said J- with the container neck, said neck engaging portion having one of its ends formed into a coil consisting o-f more than one turn, said coil being horizontally disposed along said neck below said shoulder, said coil having a central opening therethrough through which another portion of the neck encompassing portion extends, the portion through said coil being torsionally twisted therein and beyond the end of said coil extending upwardly at an angle to the axis of said coil, the upwardly extending portion passing over the top and in engagement with the closure member and having its terminal end in engagement with the twisted part of the neck encompassing porion.

5. The combination with a container having a neck with ak collar at the upper extremity, and a closure member for closing the mouth of the container, of a member for holding said closure member in position, said fastening member including a portion encompassing the neck below the collar of said container, the neck encompassing portion having a part thereof twisted for holding said portion in engagement with the container neck, said neck engaging portion at a location on the neck opposite said twisted part having one of its ends formed into a coil consisting of more than one turn, said coil being tangentially disposed along said neck below said collar, said coil having a central opening therethrough through which another portion of the neck encompassing portion extends, the portion through said coil being torsionally twisted therein and beyond the end of said coil extending upwardly substantially at right angles to the axis of said coil, the upwardly extending portion being extended to provide an inverted U-shaped portion in engagement with the closure member and extending across the top thereof, said U-shaped portion having a part remote from said coil in engagement with the twisted part of the neck encompassing portion.

6. The combination with a container having a neck with an enlarged collar at the upper extremity, and a closure member for closing the mouth of the container, of a fastening member for holding said closure member in position, said fastening member including a portion encompassing the neck below the collar of said container, the neck encompassing portion having a part thereof twisted for holding said portion in engagement with the container neck, said neck engaging portion at a, location on the neck opposite said twisted part having one of its ends formed into a coil consisting of more than one turn, said coil being tangentially and horizontally disposed along and in engagement with said neck below said collar, said coil having a central opening therethrough through which another portion of the neck encompassing portion extends, the portion through said coil being torsionally twisted therein and beyond the end of said coil extending upwardly substantially at right angles to the axis of said coil, the upwardly extending portion being extended to provide an inverted U-shaped portion in engagement with the closure member, said U-shaped portion having its terminal end intertwisted with the twisted part of the neck encompassing portion.

EDWARD P. LINCH. 

